One thing about the NFL is you will never know what to expect. Players who seemed untouchable at one point could be traded out of nowhere. The reasons always vary: money, age, personality, etc. The Chicago Bears have learned this well over the past few years. They acquired Chase Claypool from Pittsburgh. That was a disaster in every way. Next, they secured D.J. Moore and Montez Sweat within a few months of each other. Both have already proven to be huge additions.
Chicago also hasn’t been afraid to unload players it feels are either underperforming or don’t fit its vision for the future. Khalil Mack and Roquan Smith are two such examples. Might they consider another one? Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report thinks they should. The team could use a little more cap flexibility in the long term. That can be achieved by shipping out middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. It is believed he hasn’t lived up to the four-year deal Chicago gave him last off-season. It’s better to cut their losses now.
The problem is that Edmunds didn’t play like an $18 million linebacker last year—he was badly outplayed by fellow newcomer T.J. Edwards and uncharacteristically struggled badly at times in coverage.
Jack Sanborn doesn’t have Edmunds’ reputation or salary, but he has played well when afforded the chance in the past. Edwards has shown in Philly that he can be the leader the Bears hoped to be getting in Edmunds. And the team can shave a cool $20 million off the cap by trading Edmunds.
Now all the Bears have to do is find a trade partner who doesn’t believe that Edmunds is overpaid.
The Chicago Bears are not unhappy with Edmunds.
People continue to insist he had a terrible season in 2023. The numbers say otherwise. He had 113 tackles, four interceptions, a pick-six, a forced fumble, and seven passes defended. His presence was crucial to the Bears becoming one of the NFL’s top run defenses. Sure, he didn’t play at the level Brian Urlacher did all those years ago, but to say Edmunds was bad last season is irresponsible slander. He was more than adequate, especially for it being his first year in the system.
What matters is how the Bears view him. From all accounts, he is well-respected in the locker room and has done everything the coaches ask. They love his athleticism and leadership. It was why they signed him in the first place. There is nothing wrong with wanting more. Eberflus always holds his players to a high standard. This team wants to win. For that to happen, everyone must play better. That includes Edmunds. Trading him would not make this team better.
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TGena. Third Chair Oboe doesn’t get called on to play much, Okay? FU Brenda and Sheila. A-hats. That means I have watched a lot of football. Similar to when Sheldon Quarles replaced Hardy Nickerson with the Bucs. If it was my team, I’d Tampa II every year, every staff. I’m less of a fan of the 3-4. That’s just my opinion. Ro is a 3-4 LB. He is not a 4-3 LB. That ongoing comparison is like comparing Ro to Dexter. Both those players are required to go forward, Edmunds is required to go backward, to the deep middle, not… Read more »
@jmscooby —
There’s no question that certain physical traits and characteristics fit the various defensive schemes to lesser or greater degrees.
But, eventually the questions involving scheme fit are reduced to a simple one: “Who is the better football player?”
Fred Warner makes all the plays. He’s not perfect, but he plays the game as if he knows the play and the snap count, in advance.
Roquan: not so much; Tremaine: not at all.
TGena, that’s white noise, too. You know the job descriptions are completely different for a MLB in the Tampa II, and an ILB in a 3-4.. I will not deny whatsoever, Ro found the perfect landing spot (Poles said you’re welcome, btw), however, let’s see what he can do now that he doesn’t have Queen next to him.
One guy is required to cover deep. The other guy is required to bang his helmet into the guy in front of him.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) came out with its list of Top 32 LBs for the 2024 season (some guy named Fred Warner was #1). Here are the familiar names: “2. ROQUAN SMITH, BALTIMORE RAVENS Smith’s trade to the Ravens midway through the 2022 season has taken his career to another level, with the former eighth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft putting together the two highest-graded years of his career since arriving in Baltimore. He missed just 6.7% of his tackle attempts in 2023, the 10th-best mark at the position. 9. T.J. EDWARDS, CHICAGO BEARS Edwards’ first season in Chicago was as good… Read more »
This is all bobblehead white noise. Edmunds took a bit to acclimate to the system, but he is perfect for the Tampa II which requires the MLB to cover the deep middle third. Ro was a moving forward only LB. Edmunds is a long limbed, huge wingspan player. He will collect a lot of tipped balls from the DL. He is only going to get better with time in the system, AND with what Sweat immediately added when he joined the team. I said it before, drafting Odunze was a sign we are making a SB run this year. Trading… Read more »